Many keen cricketing pundits were forecasting a closely contested final between minor premiers Parkes Colts and an inform Cowra Bowling Club at the Woodward Oval last Saturday.
Parkes Colts however turned it into quite a one-sided affair after they produced a stunning bowling and fielding effort to dismiss Cowra Bowling Club for 97 runs in 35.2 overs.
The Colts then made short work of their run chase to score 1/98 in 20.1 overs, only losing the wicket of opening batsmen Peter Yelland off the last ball of the game as Peter was stumped off a wide that gave Colts victory.
It would be fair to say that the Dunford brothers, Phil and Paul, played major roles in the Parkes Colts premiership success as Phil secured the excellent bowling figures 5/24 off 9 overs including 3 maiden overs. Paul continued his rich rein of batting excellence to score a dominant 59 not out with 7 fours in 70 minutes to pilot the Colts home to a most emphatic 9 wicket victory.
The match began with a superb bowling blitz from Colts bowlers Brent Tucker and Andrew Britt as they smashed through the early order Bowling Club batting. Andrew Britt, by securing 2 wickets in his opening over, gained plenty of approval from his teammates. The entry of Phil Dunford to the bowling crease saw wickets tumble, but Michael Curtale’s valiant 49 provided the backbone of the Cowra Bowling Club innings of 97. The Colts young bowler Zac Larkins was delighted to take a wicket with his first ball before finishing with the very tidy figures of 1/5 off 3 overs.
In reply Colts openers Pater Yelland and Paul Dunford carried on the tradition of great Australian opening pairs such as Bob Simpson and Bill Lawry, Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor in guiding the Colts to a memorable victory.
By Luke Nash